High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE)
Download: Complete Bulletin. PDF file.
Background:
On January 8, 2002, the latest revision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed into law. This is known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Perhaps no other federal legislation has impacted public schools to the extent of NCLB. From new testing requirements, new accountability standards, and a call for all teachers to be highly qualified, public schools are scrambling to address the wide-ranging components of this legislation.
This information bulletin will provide you with an overview of the use of HOUSSE documents as they have been determined and interpreted by the New York State Education Department.
HOUSSE is one component of a much bigger set of requirements established for highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals as part of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). This is important because teacher certification is based in New York State Law and regulation. Further, many of the issues surrounding employment of teachers in the public schools are a matter of collective bargaining governed by the Taylor law. The NCLB legislation makes it clear that it is not intended to overturn state laws or collective bargaining agreements.
However, guidance from the U.S. Department of Education has created a great deal of pressure on state education departments and local school districts to set aside some of those rights and protections provided in state law and contracts. Consequently, it will be extremely important for local teacher union leaders and labor relations specialists to pay close attention to the manner in which your school district interprets and implements the concept of "highly qualified teaching."
A major component of this information bulletin is NCLB NYS Field Memo #03-2007 from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) titled "Updated Fact Sheet with Highlights of the NCLB's and IDEA's Requirements for Teachers and Title I Paraprofessionals in New York State."
Download: Complete Bulletin. PDF file.
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Produced by NYSUT Research and Educational Services, NYSUT Information Bulletins and Briefing Bulletins provide up-to-date critical information on emerging educational issues at the state and federal level.
